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Critical Lens: Perspectives
Engage with thought-provoking analysis and unique insights on contemporary topics. This space challenges conventional wisdom, explores the intersection of broad societal trends with principles of purpose and growth, and invites dialogue. Expect critical takes designed to spark new ways of thinking.


Money, happiness, and the moving goalpost
Why do achievements and financial milestones so often feel like “not enough”? From our evolutionary wiring to modern research, this essay explores the link between money and happiness. It examines why our brains constantly move the goalpost, how income affects well-being, and why defining “enough” intentionally can transform our relationship with wealth and freedom.

Olivier Kaeser
Sep 24, 20256 min read


The final test: why AI is our ultimate reckoning with human purpose
We’re nearing the end of a rare era, one defined by post-war prosperity, linear growth, and a widespread ability to ask, “What is my purpose?” But that question is a privilege built on stability, now eroding under the weight of systemic cracks: economic inequality, ecological collapse, and a reckoning with the exponential nature of AI. This is not a call for cynicism, but a reflection on the purpose behind the systems we built and what comes next.

Olivier Kaeser
Jun 16, 202513 min read


Hijacked: How our brains got wired for screens and how to fight this addiction
We’re more connected than ever, and more distracted than ever. This post explores how our brains get hooked on screens and why tech companies profit from our attention. From social media to gaming, today’s most “free” platforms are engineered to be addictive. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Learn how to set clear boundaries, use technology with intention, and reclaim your most precious resource: your time.

Olivier Kaeser
Jun 10, 20255 min read


From Swiss precision to startup scrappy: six classic mistakes I made as a founder
From a risk-averse Swiss culture to the scrappy Bay Area, I spent seven years building a mission-driven startup. This is an honest look at the six crucial mistakes I made along the way—from having no technical co-founder and lacking a "sell" mindset to building a "vitamin" instead of a "painkiller." These are the hard-won lessons on product, focus, hierarchy, and knowing when to let go, shared to help other founders on their journey.

Olivier Kaeser
May 30, 202514 min read
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